Climate Action Counts

National Climate Group Prepared For Possible Snap Election

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2020
Media contact: Cathy Orlando cathy@citizensclimatelobby.org 705-929-4043

Sudbury ON: With the US election two weeks away, and a possible confidence vote in the House of Commons and thus another pending snap election in Canada, elections are top of mind for Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) Canada. They want the main federal parties to know that if an election is called, their climate policies will be organized into a table for voters to quickly determine for themselves which party has the most adequate climate policies.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby is a non-partisan group and it does not grade party-platforms.

Federal party leaders PM Justin Trudeau, Erin O’Toole, Jagmeet Singh, Yves-François Blanchet, and Annamie Paul should all take note that a recent poll found that 42% of Canadians identify themselves as climate voters and the Fridays For Future youth movement is still very active in Canada. 

“The world is at a pivotal moment in history,” says Cathy Orlando, CCL Canada’s National Director. “Canada could be a world leader in climate action. Our volunteers are here to help Canadians move forward together.”

Here is a draft list of the criteria upon which the national parties’ climate policies will be scrutinized:

1. 2030 and 2050 GHG emission reduction targets 
2. Evidence that their plan will meet the emissions targets
3. Tax reform plans to fund the transition to a low carbon economy such as wealth taxes, digital taxes, closing the stock option loophole, and any other plans.
4. Details on the components used to achieve the rising national carbon price (revenue-neutrality, border carbon adjustments to protect domestic industries, and  economy-wide-uniform carbon pricing) 
5. Shielding the poor and middle class during the transition 
6. Support for fossil fuel workers and farmers during the transition 
7. Whether the party supports:
   – border carbon adjustments
   – the Clean Fuel Standard
   – ending all fossil-fuel subsidies  
   – Climate Accountability legislation including details such as GHG budgets, mandatory public reporting, adaptation, equity, First Nations considerations, burden-sharing, and a just-transition for all.
   – The National Climate Emergency Declaration
   – Enshrining the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (U.N.D.R.I.P.) under national law
   – Canada’s methane regulations
   –  the private member’s bill from the Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester, Lenore Zann, Bill-230, National Strategy to Redress Environmental Racism Act
   – Support the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act (C-38) and the Impact Assessment Act (C-69)

Since September  2010, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada volunteers have recorded over 1,000 meetings with Parliamentarians and over 3,000 appearances in print media. Its focus is to protect and improve Canada’s carbon pricing policy. View the results of Citizens’ Climate Lobby Canada’s  Election 2019 Climate Action Counts survey here and below.

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